MURRAY DARLING BASIN TASSIE FOREST PEACE DEAL THE NZ CAMPAIGN MEMBER PROFILES

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2 Green CONTENTS

REGULARS 4 Editorial 6 Letters to the Editor ISSUE 36: May 2012 PUBLISHER: The Australian Greens PARTY NEWS EDITOR: Catherine Green (Seedpod) DESIGNER: Natalija Brunovs (Seedpod) 5 Over to Christine BOB BROWN COVER PHOTO: Natalija Brunovs 7 Denticare A campaign to sink your teeth into ISSN: 1443-6701 MARY HEANEY PRINTED BY: Printgraphics PrintGreen 8 Creating Policy for the New Political Environment PRINTED ON: Soverign Silk DAVE ABBOTT Soverign Silk is acid free, pH neutral, elemental chlorine free paper and manufactured using 26 Bob’s Last Back Page sustainable forestry practices. The mill has ISO BOB BROWN 14001 environmental management systems certification. Printed using vegetable based inks. 28 Greater than the Sum of Our Parts This publication is printed in Australia under ISO CHRISTINE MILNE 14001 Environmental Certifications.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in Green magazine FEATURES are the views of the authors alone. They do not necessarily represent the views of the editors or of 9 The Murray-Darling Basin Plan: On the Brink of Failure The Australian Greens, staff, members, or sponsors. JONATHAN LA NAUZE Green magazine aims for its material to be accurate at the time of print but this is not always possible. 12 Response to The Murray-Darling Basin Plan article Green magazine is licenced under a creative commons attribution-noncommercial-no derivs 3 australia SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG licence. 14 War of Words Over Tasmania’s ‘Forest Peace Deal’ The Australian Greens wish to acknowledge that we are on indigenous ground – this land is the spiritual GEOFF LAW and sacred place of the traditional owners and their ancestors and continues to be a place of significance. 16 Observer Tree Further, we thank them for sharing this land with us MIRANDA GIBSON and agree to respect their laws and lores. GLOBAL NEWS 18 A Richer Campaign New Zealand is unleashing new ideas KYMBERLIE DIMOZANTOS 21 Global Dialogue 4th Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations ALEX SURACE Subscribe! LOCAL ACTION DID YOU KNOW, you don’t have 23 Making Change Visible to be a member of the Greens to MARGARET HENDER subscribe to Green magazine? 24 A Cloud of Carbon Finding the best printer in a lot of hot air Now, of course we would prefer it if NIGEL QUIRK you were but if you’re still warming up for the main event of being a fully-fledged member, then why not get ready by subscribing to Green magazine? EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING [email protected] If you are a current member and 02 6140 3217 not receiving your very own copy of Green magazine in your letter box, check your subscription status with SUBSCRIPTION & MAILING INQUIRIES the Greens office in your state first greensoffi[email protected] before renewing. GPO box 1108 Canberra ACT 2601

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Green 3 EDITORIAL CATHERINE GREEN AND NATALIJA BRUNOVS INVITE YOU TO MAKE YOUR SELF A CUP OF TEA, GRAB A COMFY SEAT AND SOAK UP THE NEW GREEN MAGAZINE WITH US.

hen we first laid our eyes on the ad seeking new editors for Green magazine, our hearts jumped! It was a wonderful W possibility; looking after a publication that shares information we believe in. Doesn’t everyone dream of working on things with real meaning? And so we have happily thrown our heads and hearts into the publication. We’ve revisited the design and content to bring you what we think is an engaging, thought-provoking and pleasure-to-read Green magazine. But this is your magazine, so we would love your feedback. What do you want to read? What is your response to the articles? Would you like to write an article? Let us know. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Australian Greens as a national organisation, we decided to interview people who have been members for 20 years or members who are 20 years old themselves. We had such a great response to this that we are featuring a handful of members each issue this year to share their stories with you. Let us know if you want to be one. We even baked a special cake to mark the occasion, sharing it with friends (who enjoyed licking the green icing off the beater). We hope you’ll imagine yourself as a part of the birthday of the Australian Greens and celebrate the unified success that the party has had in Australian politics. And it’s still growing strong! Please share this magazine with others. Let’s give it lots of traction by reusing, recycling and responding so that your magazine is read as much as possible!

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4 Green PARTY NEWS

OVER TO CHRISTINE BY BOB BROWN, FORMER GREENS PARTY LEADER

s Leader of the Tasmanian Greens, Christine acclaim as it has Murdoch media condemnation. No Milne pursued the trio of values ‘clean, green Christine, no carbon package. A and clever’ for post-industrial Tasmania. With Tony Abbott says that, if elected next year, he will those three words she summed up where the island rescind the package and instead PAY the polluters to state’s future fortune lay after the age of dam-building reduce pollution, using taxpayers’ money. He’ll have and deforestation. to get past the Milne – Bandt – Di Natale – Siewert – Honing the message to local business, she called for Hanson-Young – Ludlum – Rhiannon – Waters – Wright products for both domestic consumption and export, – (new Tasmanian Senator) team first. A double– to be authentic. Label it truthfully. Avoid the artificial. dissolution election fought on this issue will lead to Go for quality. Call a spade a spade. more Greens being elected. It’s a word which sums up Christine herself: Christine’s breakfast table, like the average ‘authentic’. Top quality. And you can safely apply the Tasmanian wedgetail eagle’s nest, has a northeastly label to our new Deputy Leader, Adam Bandt, and their aspect and basks in the morning sunlight. She looks whole team. out over the blue waters of the Derwent River from Christine and I have been friends for nearly three suburban Hobart, and has a small, but bountiful, decades. We were both – though separately – arrested garden with a (despite all the rumours) modest water during the blockade to save the Franklin River. In the feature with solar-powered fountain. It is her perfect Tasmanian House of Assembly I, and fellow Green MP retreat. Gerry Bates, became Christine’s in-house supporters The question is, how much will she see of it? The when she led the 1980s campaign to save the Wesley honest answer is: not enough. So it will be up to all of us Vale farmlands from a polluting pulp mill. to help ensure that she gets some time at home to clip In the Labor-Green Accord years 1989-92, after the water herbs as well as the sweet corn and roses in Christine astonished pundits and won a seat in the her garden. The Green team, not least Christine, faces sprawling rural electorate of Lyons, Christine blocked a very testing 18 months ahead to the next election. the government’s plan to close 22 mainly rural I advocate the same for Adam Bandt who, besides schools. She stared down Premier Field’s threat to all the pressure of the lower house crossbench where call an election if she did not withdraw a motion of he sits as the Greens Member for Melbourne, is now the no confidence in the Minister for Education who had Deputy Leader of the most progressive and dynamic broken a promise on funding education. The minister party in the parliament. resigned instead. So too for the 8 other members of the Greens Party When I retired from state parliament in 1993, Room, their staff and families. I wish them great Christine became the first female leader of a success and am committed to helping all I can in the parliamentary party in the state’s history. Among times ahead. I look forward to coffee at The Retro with gains her Greens notched up while supporting a any of them who is visiting Hobart. I also look forward minority Liberal government were gun control laws, to a trip to all states to meet all of you who back the new rainforest national parks, gay law reform and an Greens to talk not just of past events but the Greens apology to Tasmania’s stolen generation of Aboriginal future in Australia and beyond. people delivered on the floor of parliament. And while I reckon I’ll have a morning tea or two in She entered the Senate, along with Rachel Siewert Christine’s sunroom in the coming months, Paul and I from Western Australia, in 2004. Seven years later the also look forward to talking over Green ‘authenticity’ Gillard government’s historic carbon package, which with her beside our own frog pond in southern makes Australia a world leader in tackling climate Tasmania. change by putting the cost burden on polluters, passed One thing we can depend upon: Christine is an through the Senate. It has Christine’s label on it. It is outstanding politician taking the lead in creating a the authentic article and has brought as much world cleaner, greener and cleverer Australia for us all.

Green 5 PLEASE EMAILUS WE WELCOMEYOURRESPONSESTOARTICLES ANDIDEASEXPRESSEDINGREENMAGAZINE. LETTERSEDITOR TO THE stress ontheEarth’s resources population growth iscausinghuge growth sortedout. Uncontrolled let’s a policy get onpopulation An excellent idea. As astarter Happiness asanalternative. You mentionedGross National spurious measure ofsuccess, GDP. brought tobearinendingthis make foreign companiesricher! sell CSGtoforeign countriesand destroying farmingintherushto polluting ourgroundwater and this country we are hellbenton our land. Notbad!Meanwhile in air, acidifiedseasanddegraded to achanged climate, polluted many, consumedourway madly few andincreased poverty for created obscenewealth fora We’ve raped theEarth’s resources, wrong outcomeforhumanity. GDP hascreated entirely the that measuringandworshipping Growth Busters. The messageis Growth” movie produced by ago, Iwatched the “Hooked on “Greens andTheEconomicMyth”. my imaginationwithyourarticle Well doneHannah,youcaught THE ECONOMICTHE MYTH It’s timethatinfluenceis Interestingly, only three days [email protected] - South EastQueensland David Killeen unhappy inourdaily lives. It’s alsomakingusincreasingly continual GDPgrowth isthenorm. and istheunderlying reason why are 3economies:environmental, dialogue. like tofloatacoupleofideasfor our concernsare wider. Iwould were bornafterthe ofSteam,Age to have adifferent perspective; we have tohave. Onewould expect us party thisisaconversation we rightful placeasamajorpolitical special interest group andtakeour if we are toprogress beyond a Hannah’s article ontheeconomy, world wewanttoseeandlivein. values andleadsustowardsthe Economics Policythatreflectsour we musthaveacomprehensive agree thataswegaininpower neglect ofGreenEconomics.I Hannah Parrisontheapparent I readwithinterestthearticleby AND EVOLVE GROWAS WE I would liketopropose thatthere I agree withthethrustof www.roninfilms.com.au orders@roninfilms.com.au change byProfWill SteffenisalsoavailablefromRonin Films. A DVDofalectureattheAustralian AcademyofScienceonclimate upper highschoolstudents. Askyourlocallibrarytogetacopyaswell. mins offurtherinformation -invaluableforteachers,universityor The InertiaTrap internationally knownintheirfieldsofclimatescience. Prof Will Steffen,ProfDavidKarolyandDrJohnChurch.Othersarealso are 9scientistscontributingtothefilm,includingProfJames Hansen, insights ontheeffectofclimatechangeworld’s oceans.There Packed withinformation,thisfilmisarichcompendium ofscientific WE PUBLISHUPTO200WORDSPERLETTER. is 45minsandtheExtrasonDVDprovide88 (via email) Robert Maxwell want. opportunity toforge thefuture we looking forward tothisunique growth spurtandIforoneam stage; we are about toputona people tohonetheirskills. for ourentrepreneurs andbusiness Economy by creating alarger place involvement intheGlobalFiscal This inturnwillstrengthen our local andregional fiscaleconomies. should placemore emphasison economics? Inmy opinionwe forget thiswhenitcomestofiscal honed atalllevels. Why isitwe feed theglobal;thattalentsare not necessary, thatthelocaldoesnot levels, nobody says thatthisisnot state, nationalandinternational footy teamsatalocal, regional, media perspective odd. We have Fiscal Economy. Ifindthislack of most ofuslive largely inaLocal on theGlobalFiscal Economy other two, tothelossofallus. the fiscaleconomy andignore the the oldpartiesconcentrate on succeed inallthree. Ithinkthat important andwe needtoplan social andfiscalthatallare We Greens are ataninteresting Whilst mostmediafocuses

MAJOR SUMNER ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC FORUM IN ADELAIDE. PHOTO: SARAH HANSON-YOUNG’S OFFICE PARTY NEWS

DENTICARE a campaign to sink your teeth into

BY MARY HEANEY

o you’ve probably heard about the Di Natale commented that, “This is a solid recent win by the Greens in securing downpayment on dental health and a S a commitment of $165 million toward great outcome but this is only the start of dental health as part of the Denticare long negotiations with the Government to improve term campaign, but what is the campaign all dental health. In a wealthy country like ours about and importantly, what does it mean for going to the dentist should be just as easy as the mouths of Australians? going to a GP, which is why the Greens want A quick survey of my lounge room revealed some to achieve a universal Denticare scheme by bringing shocking results! 100% of respondents had not been to dental health into Medicare over 5 years.” the dentist in the last TWO YEARS, despite admitting to And the Greens aren’t the only ones to have noticed experiencing pain from various nasties such as wisdom that Australians aren’t flashing their best winning teeth and a missing filling. Though squeamishness was smiles. The Brotherhood of St. Laurence, a not-for profit a reason for not going to the dentist, the overwhelming organisation based in Melbourne, works with some of reason for these three otherwise healthy, full-time- the people most at risk of experiencing poverty. They working, city dwellers was cost. have seen first-hand that people without healthy teeth Though empirically flawed, my two-minute-three- have difficulty eating, talking, finding work, and can person survey is typical of state of mouths all over become entrenched in poverty and disadvantage. Australia, but some lounge room surveys may yield To get a real idea of the impact bad dental health more dire results than others. can have on people, take a look at the Brotherhood of St One in three Australians say they can’t afford to go Laurence website to read stories of people personally to the dentist, or delay going to the dentist because of affected. In particular, take the time to watch the the cost. But if you’re on a low income, live in a regional devastating story of Joshua whose rotting teeth became area or are Aboriginal, then chances are you’re putting so painful that he took a sledge hammer wrapped in a up with some of the worst dental health. tea towel and knocked out his own front teeth. This is In response to the $165 million commitment, sure to convince you that dental health is more than Greens’ spokesperson for health, Senator Richard having nice teeth, its firmly a social justice issue and there is a desperate need for it to be brought under THE GREENS’ DENTICARE PLAN Medicare. You can find these stories and their recent report, 1. Dental treatment covered by Medicare. Phased in End the Decay: The cost of poor dental health and what over five years, Medicare will cover preventative and should be done about it on the Brotherhood of St restorative dental treatment so that everybody can Lawrence website: dental.bsl.org.au afford to go to the dentist. This is a campaign that will need a lot of support. 2. Starting with the most needy. Low income earners, kids Already there has been much activity around Denticare and teens, pensioners and those with chronic disease like the National Days of Action in March with Denticare will be among the first to access dental treatment under stalls outside Medicare offices around Australia, public Medicare. meetings, advertising and door knocking. But there is still a lot of work that can be done before the May 3. Investment in the public system. Injecting much budget, and the work will continue beyond then for needed funds into the public system to decrease waiting list and revamp school dental programs. Denticare to become a reality.

4. Training the dental workforce. To ensure that Australia SIGN THE PETITION has enough dental health professionals in the places greensmps.org.au/content/petition/ they need to be, increasing investment in dental bring-dental-care-medicare training and placement.

Green 7 PARTY NEWS

CREATING POLICY for the new political environment

BY DAVE ABBOTT, NATIONAL POLICY OFFICER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GREENS.

he Australian Greens are adapting Cassidy and all members put in many, to a new political environment many hours of thinking, discussion and T with an overhaul of the policy debate resulting in national conference platform. Political power in the Senate last November endorsing the result. and the new Parliamentary Budget Policies will in future comprise Office (PBO) bring new opportunities and principles, aims and key priorities, with urgency. a preamble for each policy grouping As Senator Christine Milne explains, setting out a clear overall vision for that the PBO will allow all parliamentary parties to have part of our platform. Key priorities will be endorsed their proposed budget measures officially costed. “The by national council (via special policy conference) PBO gives the community much more confidence to or by national conference. Each policy or policy properly compare the promises made by parties in an grouping will then generate policy initiatives - what election campaign, and where the money will come we actually seek to do - from either the party room from.” or the membership, which will be costed and always The Australian Greens campaigned strongly for the current. PBO and the party is gearing its processes to prepare robust, current and flexible initiatives that can be MEMBERS ASKED TO COMMENT judged on their merits by the voters. Also in 2011, the AGPCC designed a system to ensure Greens policy initiatives - what we say we’re going maximum member input to the re-framing of policy to do – are to be framed with the costing exercise and ongoing revision of policy content. During 2012, in mind. Existing Greens policies are framed as all members will be asked for comment on the re- principles (what we believe), goals (what we want) and drafted policies via their state/territory delegates. A measures (what we’ll do). All 600 measures across formal member consultation plan was endorsed at the policy platform will be revisited in preparation for March national council. Member comments will be the PBO during the review. incorporated into further revisions, before submission of the ‘new’ (re-framed) policies for endorsement at POLICY COORDINATING COMMITTEE national council in July and national conference in The Australian Greens Policy Coordinating November. Committee (AGPCC) was established at the 2010 national conference to: THE REVISED POLICY PLATFORM s ENSUREPARTYMEMBERSHAVETHEOPPORTUNITYTOBE WILL INCLUDE FOUR TO FIVE POLICY engaged in Australian Greens policy processes s FACILITATE A PARTY WIDE DISCUSSION ON THE POLICY SUITES THAT WILL HAVE: platform and policy processes • a brief preamble setting out the vision s RECOMMENDAPOLICYPROCESS • principles and aims s COORDINATEPOLICYPROCESSES AND s ASSESS AND PRESENT POLICY PROPOSALS TO NATIONAL • key priorities conference. • Current policy initiatives: What the Australian Greens The AGPCC comprises one representative from will seek to do will be generated from each policy suite. each state/territory (and an alternate delegate from each), the Australian Greens policy coordinator and With ongoing policy in mind, the Committee has also national manager, and two representatives from drafted a template for submission of policy initiatives the federal parliamentary policy team. The policy (what the Australian Greens promise to do) from party coordinator Maiy Azize, who convenes the AGPCC, room or membership. This ensures a standard format is based in the ACT. National office has appointed a for policy initiative ideas, and an agreed process for part-time national policy officer, Dave Abbott, based member involvement, as part of the consultation each in Hobart, to support the committee during 2012. state or territory undertakes. At the time of writing, policies within the groupings NEW POLICY STRUCTURE ‘peace and non-violence’, ‘economic justice’ and During 2011 the AGPCC invested effort in framing a new ‘ecological sustainability’ were in the first stage policy structure that aims to strengthen the aspiration of re-draft and will be further scrutinised prior to of each policy while allowing for greater flexibility to presentation at national council in July. Policies in pursue current opportunities. Committee members the groupings of ‘social justice’ and ‘democracy’ will consulted via monthly phone link-ups, three face- be taken to national conference in November. All to-face meetings and a member survey. The policy members are encouraged to be part of this vital co-convenors during 2011, Sue Plowright and Karen creative process.

8 Green THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN PLAN: FAILUREON THE BRINK OF BY JONATHAN LA NAUZE, MURRAY-DARLING CAMPAIGNER, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

“The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has produced a Successive river rescue plans have failed to grasp draft plan that manipulates science in an attempt to this nettle, due largely to the lobbying power of engineer a pre-determined political outcome...” irrigation’s elite corporate farms and the parochialism The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, January, 2012 of Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian governments. Despite radical reforms and the he decline of Australia’s longest and most expenditure of billions of public dollars, basin rivers heavily utilised river system has been making remain mere conduits for irrigation flows. Floodplain T headlines for decades. So too the succession of wetlands and river channels themselves receive the politically compromised – and ultimately unsuccessful scraps after irrigation entitlements are met and in – attempts to reverse it. Now Australia teeters on many places this means years or decades between the edge of yet another failure with the strife-ridden drinks. Murray-Darling Basin Plan. But there is still hope, and Until now. At the height of the millennium drought, the Greens will have a key role to play in 2012 as both John Howard and his Water Minister Malcolm Turnbull a grassroots movement and a parliamentary party if stared down the irrigation lobby and upstream the Plan is to set the river on a sustainable course once states to pass the Water Act 2007. It provides for a and for all. scientifically-determined Basin Plan that must reduce water extraction to sustainable levels. Nearly $10 KNOW THE HISTORY billion is now allocated to put the plan into action and Spanning four states, one territory and 14% of the help regional communities adjust. Critically, a third Australian landmass, the Murray-Darling Basin is of that is for buying water from farmers, avoiding the as vast as it is complex. At the heart of its plight is need for compulsory reductions. a deceptively simple problem: we take too much Whilst the Plan is taking some time to develop, water from its 23 rivers, leaving aquatic ecosystems water buybacks have already made significant inroads barely able to function. Curtailed flooding limits the into the reduction it will demand. About 1,000 gigalitres opportunity for fish, waterbirds and other aquatic life to (GL) – a quarter of what independent scientists say is breed. Constricted flows prevent the river flushing salt needed – has been recovered since 2009. But then in downstream and out to sea. At its mouth, internationally November last year, Minister Burke caved in to sections renowned wetlands have become sterile hypersaline of the irrigation lobby and announced a slowdown ponds and acidifying time-bombs that threaten the on buybacks in the Southern rivers where irrigation drinking water of several million Australians. entitlements are most dangerously oversubscribed.

Green 9 WHAT IS AT STAKE? acknowledges this will deprive key sites of sufficient Many ecosystems will take decades to recover from water, including internationally recognised wetlands the stress we put them under during the millennium like Chowilla in South Australia and Barmah-Millewa drought. If the next drought arrives before enough straddling the Victorian-New South Wales border. water has been bought back, some will tip over the edge. Salinity levels in the Coorong will still reach lethal Delaying buybacks makes this more likely. It also makes levels during drought and native fish and migratory it harder for many family owned farms, indebted due waterbirds will miss key breeding opportunities. to the high Australian dollar, the supermarket duopoly and ever-sinking commodity prices, to sell their water KNOW THE FACTS at a reasonable price and recoup their losses. As a The Draft Plan flies in the face of the MDBA’s previously direct result of the Commonwealth stepping out of the published science that indicated cuts of up 7,600GL water market, entitlements have reached their lowest were required. Since then, the irrigation lobby has price in a decade. Good for big agribusiness wanting to sharpened its knives, New South Wales and Victoria buy-up water, not so good for small irrigators wanting governments have returned to the warpath, and to consolidate or retire. ex-NSW planning minister Craig Knowles has been installed as the new MDBA Chair. To justify the about- turn, Knowles claims the earlier work didn’t account for how modern ‘flow constraints’ conspire against the delivery of larger flows: environmentally desirable, but simply not possible. This claim is mischievous and misleading. With $10 billion and seven years before the Plan comes into force we have ample opportunity to overcome most if not all of these constraints. In some cases the work has already started, such as with the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands. The Draft Basin Plan deprives them of enough water to maintain wetland vegetation and native fish breeding. The MDBA’s excuse is that the Mundarlo Bridge near Gundagai would be washed away if the required flows were delivered. Yet the state government has already begun a feasibility study into raising the bridge to allow for bigger environmental flows. In Western New South Wales, the Australian Floodplain Association has begun helping farmers draft legal waivers to give government the confidence that environmental flows across their land won’t result in a lawsuit. The risk of such lawsuits is another excuse the MDBA has given for limiting environmental flows. In their first month the Floodplain Association had a million acres of floodplain covered. Far from a ‘constraint’, graziers are bending over backwards to enable environmental flows because it’s good for business – land productivity increases after a good flood. Another flaw in the Draft Plan is the astounding decision to ignore the risk of climate change. The MDBA estimates global warming could deprive Basin rivers of up to 37% of their flow by 2030. To manage this risk we must ensure any reductions in streamflow are shared equitably and sustainably between irrigation and the environment. The Draft Plan does the opposite:

PARTICIPANTS IN THE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH PETITION FOR THE MURRAY DARLING CAMPAIGN it guarantees that the bulk of environmental flows will be eroded before any irrigation entitlement is touched. And even if we somehow avoid the likely impacts of climate change, a proposed 2,600 GL increase in The buyback announcement was followed within groundwater extraction could literally undermine days by the release of a draft Basin Plan so hopelessly the 2,750 GL clawed back from surface water users. compromised it has drawn universal condemnation Scientific experts, including the National Centre for from environment groups and the highly respected Groundwater Research and Training have condemned Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. All this move because too little is known about which scientific studies to date indicate irrigation cuts of at aquifers are connected to rivers and wetlands. In least 4,000 GL are needed, yet the Draft Plan proposes America, whole rivers have dried up when the water only 2,750. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) table beneath them was pumped out.

10 Green ting 2 bra 0 y le ea e r C s

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE? th s The Greens will play an important role in salvaging the e n Au ree Basin Plan and associated water buybacks. Submissions stralian G on the Draft Plan will have closed by the time this article goes to print, but several points of intervention remain. Firstly, when the final Plan is drafted, state governments are able to demand revisions. With the National Party in control of Water portfolios in NSW and Victoria (and Queensland probably to follow), state Greens MPs will need to hold their governments MOMENTMOMENT WWITHITH A MEMBER to account. Victoria and New South Wales are already PAULPAUL FITZGERALD,FITZGERALD, NSWNSW lobbying for the Draft Plan to be weakened further. Simultaneously, Federal Greens MPs have a crucial HOWHOW LLONGONG HAVEHAVE YYOUOU BEEN A MEMBER?MEMBER? role to play. The final Plan is a disallowable legislative SinceSince 1989 instrument that Water Minister Tony Burke must table in Parliament. Before he does so, he can demand WHYWHY DID YYOUOU JJOINOIN TTHEHE GREENS?GREENS? the MDBA make changes and is likely to do so if he ItIt was the combcombinationination ofof a ffocusocus on socsocialial jjusticeustice and believes the Authority’s version would be voted environmental issues, and the Greens seemed to be the down. Tony Abbott’s coalition has recently softened onlyonly partpartyy questioninquestioningg the role of economic ggrowth.rowth. their rhetoric, positioning themselves to negotiate. WHYWHY DDOO YYOUOU COCONTINUENTINUE TTOO BE A MEMBER?MEMBER? But views diverge wildly between moderate Liberals I am inspiredinspired by a lot ooff good people; Lee RhRhiannoniannon and committed to the reform they began (particularly the John Kaye keep me goinggoing and Bob Brown ofof course. The South Australian MPs) and hard-line Nationals who issuesissues are jjustust as relevant now as when I jjoinedoined and the want to destroy it. Burke could easily end up having to partyparty is still strong. rely on the crossbenches instead. The Greens must put HIGHLIGHTHIGHLIGHT / BIGGESTBIGGEST CHANGECHANGE YOU’VEYOU’VE SEEN?SEEN? themselves in a strong negotiating position with both the government and influential independent Tony ClimateClimate change; that it is a mainstream issue now. It’s not thatthat long ago that we were considered absurd. Windsor if they are to influence the outcome. WHATWHAT IISS TTHEHE NUMBER OONENE IISSUESSUE FFOROR YOUYOU TAKE ACTION RIRIGHTGHT NNOW?OW? Greens members are amongst the most dedicated and SocialSocial justice issues for me, the question of asylum seekers, active environmentalists in the country. And they are Palestine. These issues are all around us. The problems are spread throughout every state and federal electorate. systemicsystemic and we need changeschanges to the systemssystems to be able The watering-down of the Basin Plan has happened toto fix thinthings.gs. You need to be involved in decision makinmakingg because we as a movement have not matched the and have people promotingpromoting yyourour arargument,gument, and that means being involved in politics.politics. campaigning efforts of agribusiness lobbyists. With the Murray-Darling, one of the Gillard government’s IfIf you want to make a difference you can’t just join the most significant reforms and a tight federal election Greens,Greens, you need to be active. looming, pressure in any and every federal electorate I think the biggest thing that stops people is the tedium ooff will have an impact on the outcome. meetings.meetings. I can remember hearhearinging the polpoliticalitical economeconomistist Whether it’s visiting your local MP, writing to the Frank StillwellStillwell once saysay that there are fourfour thingsthings yyouou need to bring about positive social change: a critique of the paper or organising a local event, Greens members can current situation, a vision of how yyouou would like thinthingsgs to help turn the Basin Plan into the rescue package our be, a strategy for getting there, and organisation. The last ofof darling Murray desperately needs. those,those, organorganisation,isation, iiss the hardest. It means that you have toto attend meetings,meetings, yyou’veou’ve ggotot to be bored sometsometimes,imes, but youyou have to gogo throughthrough those meetmeetingsings to getget ththingsings done. WHATWHAT HASHAS YOURYOUR ROLEROLE BEEN IN THETHE GGREENS?REENS? Do Something! I was the first secretarsecretaryy of the Greens NSW which included organising the venue for the national meeting where the Australian Greens was formed on 29 August, 1992, and LEARN I chachairedired some ooff that meetmeeting.ing. I was convenor ooff what laterlater became the Marrickville Greens. I was on Marrickville at our new website: www.ourdarlingmurray.org CouncilCouncil forfor a term. I have also been convenor ooff the It’s packed with background info, campaign CanterburyCanterbury Greens. I wrote a book on the polpoliticsitics behbehindind the resources and online actions so you can take part. expansion of Sydney Airport. I’m not involved at the state levellevel or ffederalederal level at the moment. Those levels are cruccrucial,ial, LIKE andand I’m ffullull ooff adadmirationmiration fforor tthosehose whwhoo do iit.t. us on Facebook: Our Darling Murray IfIf youyou want to make a difference I would also urgeurge people to thinkthink about standinstandingg for their local council. FOLLOW WHATWHAT ISIS YOURYOUR FAVOURITEFAVOURITE SONGSONG AND WHY?WHY? us on Twitter: @FoEAustralia But on thethe OtOtherher Hand,Hand, BaBabyby bbyy Hank Crawford. A couple ooff yearsyears aagogo I started plaplayingying the saxophone, mymy first-ever SUBSCRIBE instrument.instrument. PlayPlayinging llikeike Hank CrawCrawfordford iiss what I aspaspireire to to our email bulletin. Email: [email protected] inin my dreams.

Green 11 RESPONSE TO THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN PLAN: ON THE BRINK OF FAILURE

BY SARAH HANSON-YOUNG, GREENS’ SPOKESPERSON FOR WATER AND THE MURRAY DARLING BASIN

he Greens are determined A PROPER PLAN FOR THE to fix the many failures of MURRAY, NOT POLITICS T the Murray Darling Basin We need a plan that saves Authority’s draft plan highlighted the river, not the usual by Jonathan La Nauze. As the political appeasement for Greens’ spokesperson for state governments and larger water and South Australia, irrigators. The plan today I’ve campaigned heavily for is based on manipulated the river because decades science and fiddled figures. of over-allocation of water And it seems federal Labor is entitlements has left the system intent on diluting the plan to lacking enough water to sustain appease the Coalition. While itself. There’s not enough to the Greens continue to try protect internationally important and change the plan inside wetlands and the wildlife that Parliament, Minister Burke rely on them, nor feed and water appears to be putting the views the river red gums. of upstream irrigators ahead of the river’s health. He’s meant to WHAT’S AT RISK? be the Minister for the Environment, not against it. Residents of my state have always, and will always The Greens will continue to work hard to fix be first to bear the consequences should the river the plan based on the best-available science. In further deteriorate. Rivers die from the mouth up and parliament I asked the government to table legal with the Murray mouth on Adelaide’s door step and a advice showing the plan complies with the Water major source of the city’s water, there’s much at risk. Act. It refused. Independent legal and environmental SA’s Lower Lakes are the river’s lungs. They flush salt experts say the draft doesn’t comply (see box). and pollutants out to sea to keep the rest of the river $9 billion of the public’s money is at stake with this draft healthy. For years the Lakes have struggled to do this plan, as well as the billions generated by agriculture because of insufficient environmental flows. and tourism in the basin. Unless a minimum 4,000 GL If we are to save the system from collapse we need is returned to the environment, the system’s long-term at least 4,000GL to start restoring the river’s health. health and its associated industries are in jeopardy. Even the increased water from the floods has not been There will be no jobs on a dead river. There’s still time enough to restore water quality levels of the Lakes. to fight for the plan to be improved. If the draft plan is implemented as is, it will exacerbate problems of salinity and cause the Murray Mouth to close. The environmental return of 2,750GL is less than what’s needed. The increased ground water extractions allowed risk repeating the bad history of Do Something! pillorying the environment.

PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE A SAY IN THE PLAN READ At a public forum I hosted in Adelaide in February, Keep up to date on Murray-Darling news at Major Sumner, a Ngarrindjeri elder and traditional sarah-hanson-young.greensmps.org.au/ owner who lives on the Coorong, said his people and campaigns/murray-darling-basin-plan others throughout the basin have had no say in the The Environment Defenders Office (Vic) has creation of the draft plan. They deserve to tell the recently released its legal analysis of the draft Murray Darling Basin Authority of their ancient ties Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which casts doubt on and be part of the solution to help save it. whether the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s draft Adelaide University’s David Paton told the forum plan meets with the Commonwealth Water Act of his frustration that despite Australians learning (2007). To have a look at this report go to: about the problems of over extraction in the 1970s, the www.edovic.org.au - The report is on the front page. volume taken since then has soared by about 5,000 GL.

12 Green ting 2 bra 0 y le ea e r C s

th s e n A ree SHARE ustralian G YOUR WARES MOMENTMOMENT WWITHITH A MEMBER COLINCOLIN HESSE,HESSE, NSWNSW

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER? Love the new look? I first joined in 1990. When I was 17, I was a member of Friends or the Earth. I was looking for the Greens Party, BE A PART OF US! only it didn’t exist yet. WHY DID YOU JOIN THE GREENS? I joined with a group of people interested in the potential of the Greens that we saw in Germany. We were interested in Green magazine is mailed direct a new type of politics. to over 7000 party members WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO BE A MEMBER? I have my ideals… when it comes to the vehicle to achieve and with a readership of over those ideals, at a political level, the Greens is that vehicle. 10,000 people, we have a captive The opportunity that the vehicle presents and people that make it up are remarkable. There are those who have been audience. involved in politics for generations, and those who are completely new to politics with a new perspective that can help challenge what gets done. With uncluttered advertising HIGHLIGHT / BIGGEST CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN? space, and great discount offers, There are so many highlights, but one example is from when I worked on last year’s NSW state campaign and you can share your business with was the organiser for south western NSW. Iain Fyfe was like minded people. the candidate, a bit older than me, and he’s got a young family. There is someone who could live a comfortable life, but he took time out to put the Greens message out to a really strong National Party community. That passion and And the best news is that income enthusiasm to challenge the status quo inspires me! It may from advertising in the magazine sound daggy, but the biggest highlight is the people I meet who get up and do the hard work. goes straight into bigger print WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR YOU runs and wider distribution! RIGHT NOW? Commitment to consensus politics. That is a fundamental issue for the party and we won’t work without that. At an ecological and social level… I would like to see more done about climate change and social equity, but we won’t make changes until we acknowledge we need to operate BE SENT OUR SPECIAL RATES collectively. And at the moment we aren’t doing that well. [email protected] WHAT HAS YOUR ROLE BEEN IN THE GREENS? I am currently privileged to work for NSW as the local 02 6140 3217 government researcher. I respect that opportunity and it brings great responsibility. When you are political professionals, you always have to defer to members. We need to ensure a structure that supports members to set and guide policy. If we don’t we betray members and the ideals of the party. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ALBUM AND WHY? Dust by Neil Murray. Neil’s passion for Australia, our environment and for people is deeply moving. PHOTO: LAUREN MOORE LAUREN PHOTO:

Green 13 WAR OF WORDS OVER TASMANIA’S ‘FOREST PEACE DEAL’ BY GEOFF LAW, FOREST ACTIVIST FOR 30 YEARS AND CONSULTANT ADVISOR TO SENATOR BOB BROWN

“FORESTRY DEAL Not surprisingly, many people have found this entire HAMMERED” HOBART MERCURY process confusing. For months at a time, developments occur behind closed doors, only to be followed by a flurry of news reports in which statements by key “CHIPS STILL FLYING OVER players seem impossibly at odds. To make sense of FOREST DEAL” MERCURY things it’s necessary to re-visit major developments that have occurred over the past three years. “BACKLASH AT FOREST From 2007 to 2010, the Tasmanian native-forests logging industry (Australia’s biggest) suffered a PEACE PACT” AUSTRALIAN series of shocks. The corruption of the assessment process for Gunns’ pulp mill destroyed the company’s t was August 2011 and a deal between the state and public credibility. Meanwhile, the ANZ bank ruled federal governments had been signed that would out financing the mill. Woodchip markets collapsed I supposedly end the Tasmanian forests debate once in Japan, causing the closure of huge chip mills in and for all. The headlines screamed the anger of the Tasmania. And Gunns’ share price plummeted. It Tasmanian logging industry and readers could have seemed that a once all-powerful industry was on its been forgiven for thinking that the whole of Tasmania knees. had been declared a national park. As a result a new board and managing director were But over the coming months, the headlines told a appointed to Gunns and the company undertook to get completely different story. out of native-forest logging. However, logging in Tasmania’s wilderness areas “GUNNS GETS ITS MONEY” had not abated. Moves by conservation groups to HOBART MERCURY protect threatened old growth forests as national parks had been stalled for years. With the logging industry in crisis, the time was ripe for talks to occur. “FORESTS DEAL NOT GOOD A statement of principles signed by industry, ENOUGH, GREEN GROUPS unions, the Wilderness Society, ACF and Environment Tasmania in October 2010 was greeted with great SAY” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD caution by the Greens. The positive moves towards protection of ‘high-conservation-value forests’ were “BROWN SEES RED OVER off-set by clauses recognising industry’s contracts for logs from native forests. Former unionist, Bill Kelty was FORESTS DEAL DISPUTE” recruited by government to facilitate the negotiation of SYDNEY MORNING HERALD a more detailed agreement, and the process dragged on. Logging of the Tarkine, the Styx giants, the Weld

14 Green It all sounded promising, but, virtually from the word ‘go’, things went wrong.

Valley and dozens of other iconic places continued, in defiance of an agreed moratorium. THE TAMAR VALLEY In August 2011, the state and federal governments PULP MILL signed their so-called ‘intergovernmental agreement’. In March 2011, federal environment minister Tony Burke A sum of $276 million would be provided to help gave the go-ahead to the Tamar Valley pulp mill. He said re-structure the logging industry and diversify the that conditions applied to the mill would protect the Tasmanian economy, and allow struggling logging environment. The Greens disagreed. The massive project contractors to leave the industry with dignity. would still be using chlorine bleaching, resulting in toxic Bulldozers and chainsaws were supposedly going to organochlorins being discharged into Bass Strait. Fugitive be halted in large tracts of Tasmania’s wilderness and emissions of rotten-egg-gas odour would still pollute the old growth forests. Gunns and Forestry Tasmania were Tamar valley. The mill’s colossal appetite for logs, despite to receive $35 million in taxpayer funds to extinguish company claims, would still destroy native forests in their native-forest log contract. Tasmania. At the core of the intergovernmental agreement With a proposed annual consumption of 4.5 million tonnes was a ‘verification process’ to be headed by Professor of logs, the mill would be the biggest in the southern Jonathan West, a former Director of the Wilderness hemisphere. The project created national headlines in Society and the head of the Tasmanian Innovation 2007 when the company withdrew from the formal, Centre. The expert assessment would document the independent, integrated assessment process because values of forests such as the Styx, Weld and Florentine the mill had been judged ‘critically non-compliant’. The valleys, the Tarkine wilderness, the Great Western Tiers, then Lennon government legislated to facilitate a much Ben Lomond, the Tasman Peninsula, Bruny Island and easier way forward for the mill. Experts in planning, law, the North-East Highlands. Many of these places form business and the pulp industry slammed the new process part of one of the world’s great temperate wilderness for being piecemeal, biased, hasty, and based on the wrong environmental guidelines. areas and feature the world’s tallest flowering forests, rainforests, intricate cave-systems, glaciated Today, the project remains tainted by the corruption of its landscapes, ancient Aboriginal heritage, waterfalls, assessment process and engenders strong local opposition. and the habitat of rare and threatened species. No reassurances by the proponent concerning the mill’s Professor West’s assessment would also determine impacts on forests, the atmosphere, nearby farms and whether contracts for hundreds of thousands of vineyards, and the marine waters can be taken seriously. tonnes of logs could be met from outside the areas Although earthworks have occurred on site, construction whose conservation-values had been ‘verified’. of the pulp mill’s $2 billion worth of infrastructure has yet to commence. The mill’s state government approvals are It all sounded promising, but, virtually from the under challenge in the Supreme Court by the Tasmanian word ‘go’, things went wrong. Conservation Trust. Tasmania’s powerful upper house voted to oppose

Green 15 the deal, and instead of protecting nominated sensitive areas, the government allowed nearly fifty logging and roading operations to proceed. The two main beneficiaries of the broken deal were Forestry Tasmania, and a relative newcomer to Tasmania, veneer company Ta Ann. Ta Ann’s Malaysian parent company has attracted international condemnation for destruction of rainforests and displacement of indigenous populations and Ta Ann itself was identified by an independent report as the driving force for logging in the areas of high-conservation- value in Tasmania. And there’s the rub. The verification process has reportedly found that meeting Ta Ann’s log contracts is impossible. Tasmania’s forests have been over-cut and over-committed. Even logging all the unprotected OBSERVER old growth and wilderness areas can’t, in the long term, sustainably supply Tasmania’s voracious forests BY MIRANDA GIBSON industry. As a result, actions to protect the forests have TREE continued. Making an inspirational personal stand in Tasmania’s south-west wilderness is Miranda Gibson, have been sitting up in the top of this tree for a young teacher who, by the first of March 2012, had over four months now. This giant Eucalyptus that spent eleven weeks on a tree platform installed sixty I has become my home is estimated to be about metres up one of the threatened giants. four hundred years old, and is situated in the middle Inspirational also is Jenny Weber from the Huon of Tasmania’s south west forest. Over a month ago Valley Environment Centre. Last year, she challenged logging began in this area of forest that was promised Ta Ann’s customers in Japan to bust the myth that the protection in August 2011 by our Prime Minister company’s products were derived from plantations. through the Tasmanian Forest Inter-Governmental When a contract was subsequently cancelled, Jenny Agreement (IGA). Yet, despite the promise of an bravely weathered a torrent of abuse unleashed by “immediate conservation agreement”, 430,000 hectares industry figureheads, ultra-conservative MPs, and the of forest remain unprotected, including this tree, and Tasmanian Premier. logging continues. By early March 2012, the forest ‘peace talks’ were at Forest negotiations are continuing. But talking about a standstill. The logging industry said it would boycott protecting the forest loses its meaning if that very the talks while the markets campaign continued. The forest is being damaged beyond repair right now. It’s verification report of Professor West was well overdue. like going into a shop and breaking something before Logging of ancient, wild forests was stepped up. And so you buy it, except this something has been evolving for far, not a single hectare of threatened forest had been thousands of years. given permanent protection. And so, if the government won’t honour its promise, it’s up to the community to step in. That is why I’ve been sitting up here since 14 December, 2011. This tree Geoff Law has been a forest activist in Tasmania for 30 years. sit, known as ‘Observer Tree’, is fully equipped with From 1999 to 2008 he was Tasmanian Campaign Manager solar panel, computer, video camera and internet. for the Wilderness Society. He currently works as an advisor Through this set up I can document when logging to Senator Bob Brown. occurs and send live images across the world via the internet. The purpose of the Observer Tree is to expose the ongoing destruction, but also to inspire people to help protect our native forests. I am updating a blog every day and have received support from people around the world. I am also doing live conversations via Skype at community forums across Australia and hopefully internationally. The battle for Tasmania’s forests has been going on for generations now. It seemed like it would never end until the last tree fell. And then in 2011 the so- called “forest peace talks” brought together industry, workers and greenies. There was hope of finding a new solution that would be sustainable for communities and for the earth, including a transition out of native forest logging. However, there are some things standing in the way of protecting Tasmania’s world class forests. One of those things is the Malaysian company Ta Ann,

16 Green ting 2 bra 0 y le ea e r C s

th s e n A ree ustralian G

MOMENTMOMENT WWITHITH A MEMBER TRISHTRISH MORMORAN,AN, TATASS

HOWHOW LONGLONG HAVEHAVE YOUYOU BEEN A MEMBER?MEMBER? SinceSince we formed the Tasmanian Greens Party back in 1991.1991. Mine was one of the hundred names that we used to officiallyofficially fformorm the party and get iitt regregistered.istered. WHYWHY DID YOUYOU JOINJOIN THETHE GREENS?GREENS? ThereThere were alreadalreadyy five Green Independents in the TasmanianTasmanian parliament and I’d worked to help get them elected. Two ofof them were Bob Brown and ChrChristineistine MMilne;ilne; I had hugehuge respect for them, and for the others – thetheyy werewere real actactivists.ivists. TheTheyy stood fforor iissuesssues I thouthoughtght were important,important, like social justice and the environment. WHYWHY DODO YOUYOU CONTINUECONTINUE TOTO BE A MEMBER?MEMBER? ForFor the same reasons I joined – I want to see real action on thethe environmentenvironment and socialsocial justice.justice. Though we have made gains,gains, there is still a huhugege amount to do and I’m prepared to keepkeep workinworkingg for and supportinsupportingg the Greens. HIGHLIGHTHIGHLIGHT / BIGGESTBIGGEST CHANGECHANGE YOU’VEYOU’VE SEEN?SEEN? GettingGetting the carbon legislation up. My husband is a scientist workingworking in climate change so I’ve been aware of this issueissue for a long time, meanwhile the problem has grown ever more serious. Christine Milne worked hard on the committee until agreementagreement finallyfinally appeared on the carbon legislation.legislation. It’s magnificent. There are other issues that have become more prominentprominent over timetime too likelike peak oiloil and environmentalenvironmental destructdestruction.ion. I used to be iinn the ALP, and the ddifferenceifference inin feelfeel isis which has a contract for 265,000 m3 of wood every phenomenal.phenomenal. We ((Greens)Greens) actually like one another! Our year and sells Tasmanian old growth forests disguised members are iintelligent,ntelligent, commcommitteditted and ableable.. under the name ‘eco-ply’. Some good news is that UK InIn ppolitics,olitics, the Greens are our best hohope.pe. The more ppeopleeople company International Plywood, which was a major wewe have joining,joining, the more likelylikely we are to chanchangege the world. customer of Ta Ann, recently suspended their contract WithWith all our faults and failings, I think we’re brilliant! for Tasmanian timber due to the environmental OtherOther highlightshighlights were seeingseeing the Tasmanian Greens survive destruction. A large amount of the timber from Ta Ann withwith one elected rep, the redoubtable Peg Putt, after Liberal now ends up in Japan. And this is why I have recently andand Labour reduced the ssizeize ofof our state parliamentparliament iinn launched the ‘Observer Tree’ campaign in Japan. 19981998 in a failed attempt to getget rid of us, and then comingcoming I am committed to this tree-sit for as long as it takes back withwith ffourour reps iinn the 2002 electelection,ion, to the ddismayismay ooff to create change for the forests here in Tasmania. I thethe Laborials; seeing Bob elected to the senate and then hope my presence up here will spark others to take Christine,Christine, both by the skin of their teeth the first time, action and eventually bring this destruction to a halt. thenthen comfortablycomfortably the next. Just seeseeinging what the party has I believe that it is possible that these world class, achieved:achieved: ggettingetting balance of power here earlyearly in 2010 was irreplaceable forests will be protected forever. amazing,amazing, and then came balance ooff power iinn the AustralAustralianian ParliamentParliament ssixix months later. Please help by getting informed, spreading the word, and taking action. WHATWHAT HASHAS YOURYOUR ROLEROLE BEEN IN THETHE GREENS?GREENS? www.observertree.org I’veI’ve been an election volunteervolunteer,, worked in the Green Shop,Shop, helped wwithith partpartyy ffundraising,undraising, stood as a candcandidate.idate. I’veI’ve been Branch ConvenorConvenor,, Branch Treasurer and State Miranda Gibson is one of Tasmania’s most committed front- Convenor.Convenor. line forest campaigners. She has been a core member of the WHATWHAT ISIS YOURYOUR FAVOURITEFAVOURITE SONGSONG AND WHY?WHY? grassroots environment group Still Wild Still Threatened StandStand byby Me, because I’m in a small a cappella ggrouproup and we for over four years, living high in the trees at Camp Floz, a lovelove singing it. I’m one of the doo wop girls ((thethe other one is blockade in the Upper Florentine Valley.

PHOTO: JANE MARQUIS a bloke, our tenortenor)) and I really enjoy it!

Green 17 NEW ZEALAND UNLEASHING GOOD IDEAS

BY KYMBERLIE DIMOZANTOS, 2011 ASSISTANT CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND ROLAND SAPSFORD, NATIONAL CO-CONVENOR, GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

“This delegated approach has enabled us to take a highly innovative and edgy approach to design and marketing, while still maintaining accountability.” GLOBAL NEWS

n 2008 and 2011, the Greens campaign in New THE PRIORITIES WE RAN WITH: Zealand has been overseen by a 10 person Campaign I Committee (CC for short). This committee develops ENVIRONMENT a campaign strategy and budget for approval by Making every river clean enough to swim in. the National Executive. Once these are approved, the CC has a very free hand to shape the campaign, ECONOMY set timeframes and employ staff. This delegated Stimulating green jobs through business approach has enabled us to take a highly innovative incentives and government leadership. and edgy approach to design and marketing, while still maintaining accountability. FAIRNESS Our 2011 campaign HQ was packed with dynamic Bringing 100,000 children out of poverty. trans-tasman energy, thanks to National Campaign Manager Megan Salole working with Australian These were three carefully costed priorities that import and Assistant Campaign Manager Kymberlie could deliver a genuinely richer New Zealand for Dimozantos. Kym has now come back home to work everyone, and substantially transform the economy. on local government and campaign coordination for So when we rolled out ‘For a Richer New Zealand’, the Greens in Victoria! we were able to connect with those priorities to show voters exactly how we would make New Zealand New Zealand’s population would fit nicely into a ‘Richer’. Our candidates felt empowered with clear, small city Australians like to call Melbourne. Small positive, and simple language and our target voters population? Sure, but it’s a country full of big ideas and responded in record numbers. innovation. The 2011 Green Party election campaign was no exception. THE CAMPAIGN WENT THOUGH THREE STAGES: The New Zealand Greens achieved record results this last election - our vote grew by over 65%! Our 1. AWAKING THE TEAMS AND VOTERS: number of MPs increased from 9 to 14 and our share IT’S AN ELECTION YEAR! of the vote increased over and above our target of 10%, rising from 6.6% to 11.1%. And, in a country without We started out with an opening campaign: An public funding for political parties, we raised over one opening campaign is designed to ‘wake up’ branches million dollars to fund our campaign. and engage the public. The opening campaign also A key part of this success was making sure we had helped us see what gaps we had at a local level. a clear purpose, while our messaging was streamlined ‘What are you looking forward to?’ was the question and tapped into the core economic concerns of voters. we put to the public on our opening campaign leaflet. Our platform was ‘clean, green prosperity for Across the country, supporters took photographs every New Zealander’. This wasn’t a slogan, rather it holding cards stating what they were looking forward crisply summarised what we were campaigning on. to. These were then uploaded to Facebook where This platform stamped a green perspective on the people could share their ‘looking forward’ statement. economic issues that our research told us looms large for all voters, including green voters! In copy and speeches this platform often became 2. STATING OUR CASE: CREATING OUR IDENTITY ‘A clean green economy, that works for everyone’, putting sustainability and fairness at the heart of our Following the opening campaign, we focussed on economic message. political positioning as an independent and distinct Our advertising crystallised this message even party. Essentially, we took the stance that we would further with the ironic phrase ‘For a Richer New prefer to work with Labour post-election, but did not Zealand’ coupled with carefully planned imagery. completely rule out working with National, while The combination of words and images spoke to core recognising the vast policy gulf between us made any economic issues, and invited people to think about formal deal highly unlikely. what makes life truly rich. We formally launched this position after it was Research after our award winning 2008 ‘Vote for agreed by our national Annual General Meeting in June. Me’ campaign showed that we effectively tapped into This stance was credible as we had cooperated voters hearts but that we needed to combine this with issue by issue with National on schemes like a major key commitments to ‘close the deal’. Voters needed home insulation programme and a national cycleway, an emotional connection and to understand what they while remaining highly critical of other policies like get when they tick ‘Green’ in the polling booth. mining in National Parks, which we helped defeat. Our This led to us focussing on three priorities that we principled, independent stand retained our relevance used as the key issues for the 2011 campaign. These while reinforcing that our priority was implementing were Rivers, Jobs and Kids. Three was a magic number. good green ideas rather than politics as usual. It helped us to penetrate the media, it was easy to Our core political message: We stand up for our focus the efforts of our candidates, and above all it was values and we aim to achieve principled, positive easy for voters to remember. change (as summarised by the three priorities) regardless of who is in government.

Green 19 3. SEALING THE DEAL: EVERYONE ELSE IS WITH committing significant budget to a “Make History US, WHY AREN’T YOU? Tomorrow” message. This combined direct communication through our database, with a heavy Launching our three priorities early was a key emphasis on on-line advertising. We even had the full decision in a campaign that was broken in the middle front webpage banner of the NZ Herald (think Sydney by a major sporting event - the Rugby World Cup in Morning Herald) the day before polling! September and October. Between June and September Placing the power in people’s hands and helping we rolled out major launches for Kids, Rivers and Jobs. them see that they can be the difference was a huge We followed this up with a national leaflet delivery success of this campaign and our ‘Green Machine’ that introduced the ‘Richer New Zealand’ slogan and helped us achieve a record number of volunteers. imagery and the three priorities, restated our political The ‘Green Machine’ enabled visitors to log on and positioning and set out our achievements. complete missions such as liking the party’s Facebook Getting clear, simple messaging out early proved a page, becoming a member, helping hand out leaflets major tactical advantage in the sprint to the election or work on stalls, door-knocking, writing letters to following the end of the Rugby World Cup, little more the editor and various other missions that could be than a month before polling day! With the core updated depending on our needs. Once a mission was messages already established, we were able to focus complete the visitor would earn stars. Competition on materials and stories that repeated and reinforced was hot! our campaign slogan and priorities. An online ‘Calling Engine’ was developed. This project utilised our contact database and enabled Tactics aside, this campaign was on the pulse members and supporters to call other members of technology. We knew our target voters tend to be and supporters from the comfort of their own home younger than other parties and online is where we to remind them to vote – voting of course, is not could best get their attention! compulsory in New Zealand. Using this tool, our Learning from across the ditch, we adapted the members called over 3000 people! successful Melbourne campaign slogan ‘Make History’ These are just some of the innovative ideas that to help seal the deal on the last day of campaigning, made this campaign so successful. Post-election it was clear that New Zealand would have three more years of a corporate-orientated conservative government. But that Government now faces an expanded Green team which provides a positive alternative voice, and is living up to our Did you know... commitment to speak up for Rivers, Jobs and Kids. A strong Green voice is challenging the benefit 3 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT cuts, privatisation and mining agenda, promoting a compassionate economy, and setting out the EXPECT ABOUT NZ ELECTIONS smart, sane and sustainable alternatives that are the hallmark of Green politics. Campaigning on polling day is ILLEGAL, as is distributing anything that too closely resembles The Green wave is growing around the world. We ballot papers. Handing out ‘how to vote cards’ are looking forward to a Greener future not only in would be a criminal offence in New Zealand! New Zealand but in Australia too. 2011 was a great year electorally for Greens in New Zealand. We wish Under our (Mixed Member Proportional) MMP you every success in your elections this year and next, electoral system, every Party Vote counts the same and we look forward to cooperating and sharing more wherever it is cast and it’s the Party Vote that good ideas (and great people) in the future. determines how many MPs we get. We spend a lot of time encouraging people to give us their Party If you have any questions, feel free to email Roland on Vote rather than vote for our candidates! [email protected] g Voting isn’t compulsory, and turnoutturnout rises with age, so getting people to vote iss a huhugege issue for a Green Party with predominantlyy younger voters.

20 Green GLOBAL NEWS

GLOBAL DIALOGUE

ALEX SURACE OFFERS HIS REFLECTIONS AND THOUGHTS AFTER ATTENDING THE 4TH FORUM OF THE UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS HELD IN DOHA, QATAR IN DECEMBER 2011.

had the wonderful opportunity of being the a sense of fear in the community towards people delegate from the Global Young Greens to attend who have risked their lives to seek asylum. Similar I the 4th Forum of the United Nations Alliance examples were given by other youth who felt their of Civilizations (UNAOC) hosted in Doha, Qatar in politicians often used fear of other cultures within and December last year. The Forum brought together 2,500 between countries for political advantage. participants from government, civil society, NGOs, Emerging from this dialogue, I developed a concept youth, academia and international agencies from for a campaign calling on politicians and decision more than 130 countries. Hosted a few months after makers to speak out against the use of fear, intolerance the Arab Spring began blossoming, the Forum explored and xenophobia as a political tool. the role of intercultural dialogue to boost development. The campaign concept outlined an opportunity for A goal of the event was to promote the voice of youth to be part of promoting the values of the UNAOC youth by bringing over 450 participants together before while continuing to collaborate well after the Forum the commencement of the Forum proper and then ended. Although we were unable to finalise details of encouraging our participation throughout. During the campaign in Doha due to time constraints, youth the youth event we took on the goal of the Forum from around the world have continued to develop the and participated in intercultural dialogue to explore concept with assistance from UNAOC staff in New York. development, understanding and cooperation. The campaign and its theme will also be incorporated It was the first time I had ever been part of a into the 5th UNAOC Forum to be hosted in Austria in structured dialogue session which promoted listening early 2013. While there is much work to be done; this and sharing of personal narratives. It was a profound campaign is shaping up to be an important legacy of experience and planted a seed to reflect on my own the 4th Doha Forum of the UNAOC. green political narrative which brought me to this As you can expect, in a forum with over 2,500 forum. participants there were lots of different sessions to As we explored strategies to promote understanding, attend. One of the more memorable sessions was one we began identifying barriers to intercultural dialogue where I was invited to participate in a dialogue with visible in our own lives. A barrier that resonated with around 30 other youth with Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the me was the influence politicians have over the public Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

ILLUSTRATION: NATALIJA BRUNOVS NATALIJA ILLUSTRATION: discourse relating to refugees in Australia, creating Sachs was interested to speak with youth about issues

Green 21 ting 2 bra 0 y le ea e r C s

that we considered pressing. The conversation began th s e n by exploring the Arab Spring and the challenges that A e us re lay ahead. It was fascinating to listen to the passionate tralian G opinions from youth of the region, many who had been and continue to be involved in the ongoing movement for democracy in their home countries. Egyptian youth explained that while they had been instrumental in bringing about the change of direction in their country, they felt they were being left behind as the transition towards democracy continued. From their perspective, the main political parties do not have enough young candidates and they feel unrepresented even after risking so much during the Egyptian uprising. When it came to my turn to share I encouraged youth of the region to critically reflect on the transition to democracy within the backdrop of environmental issues such as climate change and to encourage them MOMENTMOMENT WWITHITH A MEMBER to keep these issues on the agenda as they pose a MEGHANMEGHAN THOMAS-RICHARDS,THOMAS-RICHARDS, ACTACT fundamental challenge to humanity. The response was clear, democracy was their priority and that over time HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER? they were sure that their capacity would increase and Since I was 16, in 2007 allow them to focus on environmental issues. There WHY DID YOU JOIN THE GREENS? seems to be an opportunity for Green parties to be part of the democratic transition in the region, being able I just thought that it was the only party that had its own opinion. I wanted the environment protected and rights for to promote democracy with an inherent interest in the refugees and I wanted to do something to help out. I joined environment at the same time. because I wanted to volunteer. The experience of Forum also extended beyond the organised events. I was fortunate to share a hotel WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO BE A MEMBER? room with a fellow student from Iran throughout the When I started volunteering it reaffirmed my thought conference. It was a humbling experience to spend that the Greens is the party I agree with. Everyone is so time with a person who sees things so differently and passionate and wants to create change. yet in so many ways is looking for the same thing, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR YOU a peaceful future. As the international community RIGHT NOW? continues to raise the stakes over Iran’s nuclear Definitely environmental policy, things like stopping coal program, it made me realise, more than ever, that there seam gas and not relying so much on coal fired power exists a huge potential for building a peaceful future, if stations. Also the issue of off-shore processing of refugees we are prepared to take the time to engage in dialogue and Australia’s refugee policy altogether, especially when with one another. there are children involved. I also think our entire education system, primary to tertiary, ROLE OF THE GLOBAL GREEN MOVEMENT IN needs a big overhaul. PROMOTING CROSS CULTURAL DIALOGUE WHAT HAS YOUR ROLE BEEN IN THE GREENS? When I reflect on my experience at the Doha Forum I I usually help out around election time. I worked for a short often ask myself: “What could be a more important role time as the volunteer/office coordinator during the lead up for the Global Green movement than to facilitate a global to state and federal elections in 2010. dialogue between individuals and organisations that support If you are thinking about doing something or changing Green principles?” something that you feel really strongly about, the best way The exciting news is that with Green parties in over to do it is to try to change government policy. To be part of 80 countries, we have a unique opportunity to foster the Greens is a good way to keep other parties accountable. cross cultural dialogue through our existing Global If you want to do something and get the Greens message Green network. out (which I think is the right message) the best way is to Being part of a multicultural society such as join the Greens, and talk to people and remind them there Australia, we are well aware of how enriching are not just two parties. You don’t just have to vote for multiculturalism can be. While we have experiences Liberal or Labor, you can vote for the Greens. and stories that would inspire others from around the WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG AND WHY? world, there are many more stories and perspectives Yesterday is finished with you by Big Low. Not too sure what that we have not heard. Let’s look for ways to join in they intended the lyrics to mean, but I see it as letting and strengthen the global green dialogue. go of the past in order to move on with your life. Which If this sounds interesting to you, or you have is applicable to letting go of archaic views and whilst something you would like to share, please get in touch. acknowledging the past and what we can learn from it, [email protected] looking to the future is quite important as well.

Alex Surace lives in Sydney and is on the Global Young Greens Steering Committee.

22 Green LOCAL ACTION

MAKING CHANGE VISIBLE

BY MARGARET HENDER, COORDINATOR OF ONE PERSON CAN

s anyone developing strategies for making to the politicians we rely on for effective government- householders’ safe-climate actions visible? level action on climate. The One Person Can website I Numerous websites educate the public on ways asks people to take a 10-minute survey of typical to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, offer climate-friendly actions householders can and do challenges, ask for pledges, or provide tools for take. Almost everybody would already be taking some measuring achievements, but does anyone ask how of these actions. And even if their motivation is to save many householders are already taking the suggested money rather than GHG emissions, the impact is the actions? Householder actions are pretty much same. By itself a survey would achieve nothing, so invisible to anyone outside the immediate family and an important part of this project is the public display close friends. Everyone in my entire street might buy of the collected results. There are graphs on the One Green Power, take three-minute showers, switch off Person Can website showing how many people in each standby power, and do all the other actions typically region are taking each of the actions in the survey. recommended.... or perhaps they do none of these. I Other websites, e-newsletters, and social media have no idea what they do and don’t do, and I’m still can link to these graphs, and they can be printed in puzzling over why I assume (in the absence of any poster format for display on local noticeboards. It’s information either way) that they don’t do much at all. early days yet, but a number of local councils and MPs One explanation might be that cars out and about are starting to ask local residents to take the survey producing emissions are very visible, while the cars and will help publicise the results. The next step is not being used are hidden away in garages. Or that to ask companies, sporting associations, academic consumers out shopping are much more visible than institutions and schools, professional associations, the people at home avoiding over-consumption and and any other sort of organisation to invite their growing their own food. members to take the survey. These groups can elect to What we do know is that around 3 million have their own separate result graphs to foster a sense Australians use renewable energy, either rooftop solar of group endeavour and achievement. or Green Power. On reflection, it also seems likely that many, many more are taking the other steps that help reduce GHG emissions, yet I think the perception that only a small minority are doing anything about climate change persists. Do Something! I think this perception, or misconception, matters a great deal. We all know that one person’s actions won’t achieve a safe climate. How many people are going to ANSWER make lifestyle changes if they think it won’t make a the survey at www.onepersoncan.org and take the difference? We need to know that many other people opportunity to make your own safe-climate actions are also taking action so that the sense of individual visible! Your actions will achieve so much more if they inspire others to join in. helplessness is replaced by the knowledge that we are acting collectively, and therefore can achieve an JOIN enormous amount. A culture shift like this would be butterfly.org.au to monitor your carbon pollution from impossible to achieve unless everyone’s actions are electricity use - an initiative of the Green Institute.

IMAGE: ISTOCKPHOTO IMAGE: visible. Primarily visible to each other, but also visible

Green 23 LOCAL ACTION

A CLOUD OF CARBON FINDING THE BEST PRINTING IN A LOT OF HOT AIR BY NIGEL QUIRK

ou have a simple annual report to print, yet TRANSPARENCY images of an entire Brazilian rainforest being Your printer needs to be transparent through the Y torn apart while small animals lose their habitat whole process. Always ask if your job will be printed invade your thoughts, and all for your A4 document. onsite. This will give you your first clue as to whether Not only that, you start visualising the printing you are in the right place. Many printers happily take company as something reminiscent of the Industrial your order, only to outsource the work and therefore Revolution with carcinogenic chemical laden presses outsource the environmental responsibility. powered directly from a coal powered sub-station! The question is, can you print in a truly sustainable VISIT THE PRINTER way without being tortured by these images? And, like If you want to ensure that your printer is actually most things, if you are willing to put a little effort into interested in the environment, you need to ask the making the choices educated, the answer is yes. serious questions and visit the premises to see for The first step is to find the appropriate printer for the yourself how jobs are printed. project. Choose a printer that prints green because it is Ask what environmental accreditation has the the only way, not because it’s a good marketing ploy. If printer been awarded? How do they measure their you do a quick Google search for ‘sustainable printing’ carbon emissions? What recycling programs do they every printer’s website will no doubt try to convince have and how much water do they use? you they are saving an ecosystem somewhere. ENVIRONMENTAL ACCREDITATION “every printer’s website will no The environmental accreditation of your chosen printer is the first step in actually appraising their doubt try to convince you they are environmental commitment. ISO14001 is a system saving an ecosystem somewhere.” whereby your print company can justifiably claim to be on the starting blocks of sustainable printing. The term “greenwash” was coined way back in Some printers will avoid the question of 1986 when an American environmentalist blew the accreditation by talking about the accreditation of the whistle on a hotel group’s motivation to save money paper they use. This is important, but doesn’t address by encouraging guests to use their towels more than the whole printing process. once before being washed. Twenty years later we find this behaviour has increased exponentially to include SO WHAT ABOUT THE PAPER? all industries, including printing. The choice seems obvious when it comes to selecting Your printer should be committed to meeting your the paper stock. Recycled right? Well, yes and no. The sustainability requirements at every stage of the choice becomes a little more complex when you start job. Components of quality printing service include to ask questions such as: What is the percentage of comprehensive information and advice on sustainable recycled content? How do I know it is recycled? Where stock selection, appropriate binding, finishing did the paper come from? How much carbon is used in and meeting of agreed deadlines. Publishing is an producing the stock? incredibly difficult endeavor, but if you don’t have the Unfortunately there is not enough room in this right partner in your printer then it will become an entire publication to explore all these questions, exercise in martyrdom. but there are some essential criteria when choosing

24 Green ting 2 bra 0 y le ea e r C s

th s e n A ree ustralian G

MOMENTMOMENT WWITHITH A MEMBER JOJO VALLENTINE,VALLENTINE, WWAA

HOWHOW LONGLONG HAVEHAVE YOUYOU BEEN A MEMBER?MEMBER? SinceSince before it was born! There were ppeopleeople around for a longlong time before the actual formation, who knew that a newnew political entity was called for. Here in WA we managed toto form The Greens (WA)(WA) in 1990, which comprised various groupsgroups that had run candidates in previous elections. SSo,o, movingmoving towards a shared goalgoal was part ofof a shared aagendagenda wellwell before 1984, when I was first elected as ppartart of the NuclearNuclear Disarmament Party. recycled stock. Firstly, make sure it is sourced from WHYWHY DID YOUYOU JOINJOIN THETHE GREENS?GREENS? 100% post-consumer waste, this is truly recycled. ItIt was not really a questquestionion fforor me. I was IN, because I was Secondly make sure the paper is certified as either FSC kkeeneen that voices other than the mainstream would be heard or PEFC. Thirdly, make sure it is chlorine free, and lastly inin State and Federal Parliaments. look for a paper that is produced carbon neutral (as TheThe main issue, which has been at mmyy core since 1978, opposed to the paper mill buying carbon credits). waswas the nuclear issue – evereveryy dastardldastardlyy aspect of it. Back in If you have a limited budget or have a glossier formationformation days, The Greens (WA)(WA) certainly had many early aesthetic do not discount stock that is not recycled. In advocatesadvocates from the nuclear disarmament/peace movements.movements. fact the carbon usage on average to process recycled ItIt continuescontinues to be the chiefchief popointint ooff my actactivism.ivism. HHowever,owever, stock is more intensive than producing the stock from it’sit’s ggreatreat to take on board all the other issues, to form a virgin pulp, so fibre sourced from pulp suppliers who completecomplete set ofof progressiveprogressive policiespolicies based around the fourfour use sustainable forestry techniques can also be a great pillars,pillars, which we borrowed from the German Greens. choice and have less of a carbon footprint than certain WHYWHY DODO YOUYOU CONTINUECONTINUE TOTO BE A MEMBER?MEMBER? recycled stocks. Once again though, insist on FSC or I will always continue to support the Greens, and am proud PEFC certification. ttoo be a llifeife member. I am veryvery loyal,loyal, and considerconsider that The Choosing the most environmentally focussed stock GreensGreens have growngrown iintonto a mamajorjor fforceorce to be reckoned wwithith - is down to the questions you ask, and the first and fromfrom beinbeingg a lone voice in the Senate inin 1985, to beinbeingg there most important question to consider is the concept of lastlast July when there were ten elected representatives in the ‘cradle to grave’ carbon life of the paper. Canberra.Canberra. ItIt’s’s been a ffabulousabulous jjourney.ourney. I reckon the current ‘The paper industry plants more than it harvests cropcrop of Member and Senators are doindoingg an outstandinoutstandingg job.job. and today there are 25% more trees in the developed WHATWHAT ISIS THETHE NUMBER ONEONE ISSUEISSUE FORFOR YOUYOU world than in 1900. Paper is biodegradable, renewable RRIGHTIGHT NOW?NOW? and sustainable. Forestry plantations provide clean GlobalGlobal warming, which incorporates every other issue facing air, clean water, wildlife habitat and carbon storage’’ usus as a human specspecies,ies, iincludingncluding the nuclear nnightmare.ightmare. And goes the marketing blurb from the Paper industry. It I am so pleased that The Australian Greens have had such a is essentially correct, though not quite so simplistic. big impact on getting a price on carbon. Underpinning all As we all know, to plant a plantation where there was thatthat is mymy concern about the rightsrights of First Nation people, once a bio-diverse forest is not ideal so we need to whowho oftenoften havehave thethe wisdomwisdom to solvesolve thethe vexedvexed issuesissues ofof ourour make sure we do not obsess about the carbon over all day,day, with their long view of the human story. other considerations, but it is generally a good yard WHATWHAT HASHAS YOURYOUR ROLEROLE BEEN IN THETHE GREENS?GREENS? stick. HelpingHelping with the formation of the Greens at WA state level, So if you want to print that poster, magazine or andand advocating that the Greens (WA)(WA) joinjoin the Australian catalogue and not be plagued with visions of choking Greens,Greens, whichwhich took much longer than itit should have! BeingBeing on a cloud of carbon from the destruction you have thethe first representative in the Senate was a break-through, caused, the responsibility is yours to ask your printer andand I hope helped pave the wawayy fforor others whowho’ve’ve ffollowed.ollowed. I all the right questions. waswas rather forthriforthrightght and gotgot arrested for civil disobedience (or(or ‘holy obedience’ as I like to call itit)) as a Senator! Nigel Quirk is an Account Manager with Printgraphics WHATWHAT ISIS YOURYOUR FAVOURITEFAVOURITE SONGSONG AND WHY?WHY? Printgreen where his primary role is partnering with clients HowHow Can I Keep fromfrom Singing? speaks to mymy heart about IMAGE: NATALIJA BRUNOVS NATALIJA IMAGE: to get ideas from concept to finished product in both print BRUNOVS NATALIJA PHOTO: hhanginganging in there, when the ggoingoing ggetsets toutough!gh! and electronic publication.

Green 25 last Bob’s Back Page

THE EARTH SONG ABC commentators who should WILDERNESS CALL Claire Dawson has the gift. Her know better. Everyone else, from The Wilderness Society’s Lyndon voice lifted the Earth Song from day our Head of State (remember Schneider’s, writing in The dream to majesty of performance the referendum?) to the courts, Australian (18/2/2012) noted that at the Hobart Town Hall on 23 military, churches and, of course, “the forest war in Tasmania is March. The hall was packed to parliament, is subject to inquiry a war without obvious victors”. celebrate the 40th anniversary or a public veto. But the Council, Search me. I recollect the beautiful of the world’s first Greens party which would do no more than Lemonthyme Valley under Cradle require the media to abide by Mountain, Lees Paddocks, the its own Code of Ethics, has been Meander Falls region, Upper Weld condemned. valley, the Picton upstream of Meantime the public, which Farmhouse Creek and Wielangta regards journalists as lower beings central having been saved from than used car salesmen or even chainsaws due to the huge efforts MPs according to polls, has gone of forest defenders in the last 25 silent. Everyone’s suborned. The years. The article says “protesters Greens will work for the sensible continue to attempt to stop Finkelstein recommendation to work in forests they believe have become law. been promised protection by the [Intergovernmental] agreement”. I AGREE WITH TONY ABBOTT They believe? That promise Tony Abbott’s welcome support is in clause 25 of the agreement meeting (after rowdy scenes, at the for rehabilitating Lake Pedder above the Prime Minister’s height of the furore over the illegal came via an opinion piece in The signature. Then there’s the claim flooding of Lake Pedder National Australian (9/1/1995) in which he the “forest war” has “rewarded Park in 1972, chair Dick Jones described the original lake as a and emboldened the warriors announced, after a count of hands, “priceless wilderness asset for and sidelined the peace-makers”. that the vote for the new party had future generations”. Which warriors and what rewards? carried). The now Opposition Leader I hope Miranda Gibson (www. We were treated to local, proposed that “a federal observertree.org), up there in her national and global messages of government could commission wild forest tree, doesn’t read The congratulations at the anniversary Australian. introduced by Nick McKim and hosted by Christine Milne. I gave GREEN MAIL the Third Green Oration, on global From the mail bag: democracy, and introduced Claire. “Having never contacted you With Rod Thomson playing the before – and having never voted grand Town Hall organ, she was Green – I offer you my most away with “This is our planet, sincere gratitude for calling the our sunlit garden, safe in our Murdoch press to account and urge keeping, Earth is our all” to an you to continue to do so. In these easy tune I wrote when I was 16. confused and shallow political Thanks Claire and Rod. If it is times we need patriots, like you never performed again you did the Bob, to stand up to that dishonest Earth Song proud! (You can see and self-interested organisation. the Third Greens Oration at www. You have absolutely nothing to greenoration.com.au) fear from Murdoch. Keep shining the light on Rupert and I WILL vote PRECIOUS MEDIA for your mob next time ‘round – I The Finkelstein media inquiry a definitive cost-benefit study promise you Bob.” recommendation to set up a and, given a favourable result, News Media Council in the public offer to fund the restoration as an interest has brought howls of important national project”. So say horror, from Murdoch’s haters to all of us. - Bob

26 Green 0M`V\»KSPRL [VW\[TVYL VM`V\Y Z\WLYOLYL

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A LETTER FROM SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE, AUSTRALIAN GREENS LEADER

n the whirlwind days since Bob Brown announced his retirement and the party room handed me the reins, I’ve I been overwhelmed by the response of our supporters, wishing both Bob and myself well and standing up to be counted as Greens. It’s been a tremendous demonstration that we are, in fact, far greater than the sum of our parts. When Bob succeeded the trailblazing WA Greens Senators, Jo Vallentine, Christabel Chamarette and Dee Margetts, our party was a small band of dedicated and passionate people with a great vision. Under his leadership and after his 16 years in the Senate, we have grown into Australia’s undisputed third political force. We have over 10,000 members, many more active supporters and 1.7 million voters represented by ten Federal MPs, holding balance of power in both houses, advocating for and delivering action to support people and protect the planet for now and for the future. For 25 years, Bob has been an inspiration to millions of Australians and a great force for good in our country. But he’s also been a colleague, a mentor and friend to me and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for everything he has done. Bob’s decision to retire is a moment for reflection and celebration. But it is also a gift to the party and an opportunity to rebuild momentum from the grassroots up. From now on, without Bob’s broad shoulders to do so much of the heavy lifting, all our members and supporters have the chance to take on some of that responsibility in personally advocating for our causes. I look forward as leader to a new era where we all work our hardest together towards our common goal. This is an opportunity for all of us to think about how each and every one of us can use the positions and networks that we have to advance green thinking, green policies and to promote the Greens as the only party at the beginning of the 21st century which recognises that protecting the environment is essential to feeding, clothing and providing a good quality of life for people everywhere. It has been fantastic to see a surge in party membership already as people see and seize this opportunity to re-boost our momentum and reinvigorate the party. I’ve also been delighted that my priorities as leader; to communicate a more coherent economic narrative about building a society that is ready for the huge challenges of the 21st century driven by accelerating global warming, and about building better relationships with people in country Australia, have resonated so strongly with so many people. In closing, I want to let you all know that Bob is as happy as I’ve seen him for many years. He’s been touched by the outpouring of affection for him and is absolutely confident that the Greens will continue to go from strength to strength. Let’s all make him proud and build on his great legacy.